DIY Nintendo Wii component cables
By Richard Lawler 
posted Nov 22nd 2006 4:04PM
posted Nov 22nd 2006 4:04PM
While finding a Wii system isn't out of the question this holiday season, getting your hands on component cables has been nearly impossible, with the connectors MIA at most retailers so far and occasionally sold out on Nintendo's own website. At times like these we must take matters into our own hands. We've made our own cables before but this time you'll have to follow the lead of the NFG forums, and MacGyver a connection together; since the composite cable included with the system doesn't have all the pins necessary, some clever modders have resorted to paper clip stand ins. We don't know how well this will work as a long term solution, but if you're waiting the long two weeks or so before the official cables hit store shelves this should definitely hit the spot.[Via Joystiq]
yeah, but can use the new cable to escape from a jail cell, rappel down a wall, and save the girl and environment from the bad guys?
What has this to do with HD or HT?
Let's see, it has to do with HD in the fact that you need component cables to output to HD (480p, boo) with the Wii?
NO, HD is at minimum 720 vertical lines. I'm not out to bash the "Wii" just that the "Wii" does have nothing to do with HD or HT.
Hah, for those of us that own BOTH (zomg) Wiis and HDTVs, it is nice to be able to at least scrape 480p out of it, and ditch friggin composite cables... savvy?
Not sure if i can wait for offical cable, but dont want to have the ghetto setup the forum poster has either... eww.
May I note I have my wii on my 60a2000 SXRD, and its sweet just for sheer size, hehe. But composite really brings it down, going from Gears of War back to wii sports hurts, but at same time I can ignore it for now seeing as I have never had such a fun party game system. (Had 3 other people over from 9:30am sunday till 8pm, mostly Wii sports, but some adventures into zelda and trauma center as well.
Can't you use any old component cables with the Wii? It sounds like you need to use proprietary cables from Nintendo which doesn't make sense.
Addex said:
"NO, HD is at minimum 720 vertical lines"
No, read the HD spec. 480p (progressive), at the 16:9 aspect ratio, is included in it.
Also, you can't use standard component cables with the Wii because it uses a proprietary connector to attach to the console.
480i is SD (Standard Definition)
480p is ED (Enhanced Definition).
HD (High Definition) starts at 720p
First, Wikipedia says 480p is ED, which is not technically HD, and we all know Wikipedia is always right. Right? >:-)
Second, I started trying the suggested method but am not comfortable with any of the suggested pin-replacements. Paper clips are so stiff I've already broken a few of the (very, very thin) plastic walls of the cable housing, and pretty much any standard crimp/solder-on pins from e.g. Radio Shack are the wrong size. I would love a piece of just-the-right-size leaf-spring copper, but don't really have the chops for that. Maybe some aluminum foil? Hrm...
“First, Wikipedia says 480p is ED, which is not technically HD, and we all know Wikipedia is always right. Right?”
480p is not HD, period, but rather ED. ED is in the specs for digital TV, that's probably what the poster above is confusing it with. Digital TV is anything from 480i through 1080p that is broadcast digitally instead of analog broadcast. All HD broadcast is digital although not all digital broadcast is HD. I think (don’t quote me on that) analog broadcast for TV in the US is 330 lines even though analog TVs are capable of more than that.
http://www.dtv.gov/whatisdtv.html
That’s a good site for DTV info if anyone want something a little more concrete than Wikipedia.